In fact, there have been a number of occurrences in recent decades in which ground personnel made off with aircraft. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. Richard Russell was a suicidal airport ground services worker who stole an airplane from Sea-Tac International Airport in Seattle, Washington, and took it on a dramatic unauthorized flight,. Russell echoed those claims in his last conversation with air traffic control. .css-v1xtj3{display:block;font-family:FreightSansW01,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-weight:100;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-v1xtj3:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-v1xtj3{font-size:1.1387rem;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:1rem;margin-top:0.625rem;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-v1xtj3{line-height:1.2;}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.css-v1xtj3{font-size:1.18581rem;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:0.5rem;margin-top:0rem;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-v1xtj3{font-size:1.23488rem;line-height:1.2;margin-top:0.9375rem;}}A 777 Nearly Plunged Into the Ocean After Takeoff, Sudden FAA Failure Grounds U.S. May 23, 1969. I don't need that much help. Newly released video shows the fiery scene firefighters encountered after an airplane stolen from Sea-Tac Airport crashed on Ketron Island. Kathleen Reichel said she watched the planes pass by for about two minutes. "I would like to apologize to each and every one of them. A 777 Nearly Plunged Into the Ocean After Takeoff, In audio recordings released over the internet, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. . That includes both domestic and international flights. Authorities sent fighter jets to escort him, and the controller repeatedly tried to direct him to runways. "We heard the jet because our windows were down while we were waiting in the ferry line to go to Anderson Island, which is adjacent to Ketron Island.". August 13, 2018 / 5:34 AM Domestic Flights, Airplane Door Rips Open Midflight on Russian Plane, Airport Worker Ingested Into Jet Engine, Dies, The Concorde Disaster, Battle Tanks, and More. The family of a man who authorities saystole an airplane from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and later crashed it called him a faithful husband, loving son and good friend. By Jeff Wise Published: Aug 13, 2018 JASON REDMOND // Getty Images Enter for your chance to win a visit to the Disneyland Resort with 96.5 JACK FM! His 75-minute flight during the golden twilight took him south and west, toward the Olympic Mountains. Russell was credentialed to be in secure areas at the airport, said Brad Tilden, CEO of Alaska Air Group, which owns Horizon Air. Indeed, in transcripts of his conversation with air-traffic control as he zig-zags the stolen plane through the airspace above the 15th-largest city in the U.S. (some of which can be heard in the video above), Russells demeanor goes from awestruck, to giddy, to fearful, to guilty, as he seems to process in real-time the weight of what hes done, and the unlikelihood that hell survive. Russell had no piloting experience, but he managed . Worker who stole plane and crashed identified, See stolen plane flying moments before crash, Co-worker of man who stole plane speaks out, Official: Man taxied plane before stealing it, Airline worker's family releases statement, Airline issues statement after Seattle crash, Witness: Thought Air Force was practicing for show. August 11, 2018 / 11:29 PM He said flying was a "blast" and that he didn't need much help: "I've played some video games before.". No one noticed the plane had disappeared until Mr Russell was in the air. Just a broken guy, got a few screws loose, I guess. "I never thought I would work as a Ground Service Agent (GSA) for an Airlines company," he wrote in a blog post in September 2017. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. 2023 Cable News Network. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. What happened from then, left a. Russell responds: "Awwww-right. We deliver the best in breaking news, live video coverage, original journalism and segments from your favorite NBC News Shows.Connect with NBC News Online!NBC News App: https://smart.link/5d0cd9df61b80Breaking News Alerts: https://link.nbcnews.com/join/5cj/breaking-news-signup?cid=sm_npd_nn_yt_bn-clip_190621Visit NBCNews.Com: http://nbcnews.to/ReadNBCFind NBC News on Facebook: http://nbcnews.to/LikeNBCFollow NBC News on Twitter: http://nbcnews.to/FollowNBC#Surveillance #Horizonair #hijacking He was immediately killed. At least 12 dead after winter storm slams South, Midwest, The Saturday Six: Dental device controversy, scientist's bug find and more, Trump speaks at CPAC after winning straw poll, 3 children killed, 2 others wounded at Texas home, Man charged for alleged involvement in 2 transformer explosions, Nikki Haley slams potential GOP contenders, and Trump and George W. Bush, Duo of 81-year-old women plan to see the world in 80 days, Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant to "take some time away" from the team after allegedly brandishing a gun in a club, Alex Murdaugh trial: What to know about the double murder case, Officials say man who stole plane was suicidal. One sketch that he posted included a drawing of a Q400 plane, the same kind of plane involved in Friday's crash. Newly-obtained surveillance video from 2018 shows how Richard Russell, then a Horizon Ground service agent with no pilot experience, successfully stole the plane before crashing to his. Lastly, we've been reporting a lot only on the most famous case of suspected pilot suicide, Malaysian Airlines Flight 370, and this weekend's tragedy bears at least a few similarities. He left prison after less than 5 years, on parole. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. New surveillance. Four years ago, a 29-year-old man named Richard Russell managed to steal an Alaskan Airlines turboprop plane from the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. "Most importantly," he said in a voiceover about his job, "I get to visit those I love most. 7 months ago. "Last night's event is going to push us to learn what we can from this tragedy so that we can ensure this does not happen again at Alaska Air Group or at any other airline," Brad Tilden, CEO of Alaska Airlines, told a news conference Saturday. Airline and Seattle airport officials revealed the following at a news conference Saturday: In audio recordings of the incident posted on Broadcastify, Russell can be heard talking to air traffic controllers as they try to guide him to land the plane. "It seemed like he was well liked by the other workers. Details of man who sources say stole airplane from Sea-Tac, Officials: Man who stole plane, died in crash not a pilot, Woman faces decades in prison after lying about murder, Do you have an investigative story tip? Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in, On the day of his tragic flight, Mr Russell wore a shirt that said The Sky is No Limit, Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile, Air Traffic Control audio reveals conversation with man who stole Alaska Airlines plane. Never really knew it until now.". Later, a controller discusses getting a pilot on the radio to help Russell control the aircraft. Recently fired airline mechanic Armando Nieto Jaramillo, 23, stole a military HS-748 transport plane from Bogot-Eldorado Airport and crashed it soon after takeoff, killing himself and three people on the ground. He said his actions were "going to disappoint" the people who cared for him, and described himself as "just a broken guy" with "a few screws loose, I guess.". The black boxes are now being sent to the National Transportation Safety Board for processing. Later that day he stole an Alaska Air turboprop aircraft and crashed it into a remote island in Puget Sound. A fter 29-year-old airline employee Richard B. Russell stole a plane at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Friday night and crashed it into Ketron Island in Puget Sound, questions remain. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. Win Tickets to Weezer with Spoon and White Reaper at White River Amphitheater on August 20th! Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. He was immediately killed. "He worked his shift yesterday, we believe he was in uniform, his job is to be around airplanes," said Brad Tilden, CEO of Alaska Air Group, which owns Horizon Air. July 4, 1986. 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The whole saga took place late on a Friday night in the west-coast time zone; by Monday morning, the constant news churn of the middle years of the Trump presidency seemed to have pushed any follow-up coverage of the Horizon Air crash out of the headlines. They pursued the aircraft before it went down on Ketron Island, between Tacoma and Olympia. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Newly-released videos from the Port of Seattle show the moments leading up to an airport worker crashing a stolen airplane nearly four years ago. After Russell talked periodically with air traffic controllers for about an hour, the plane crashed at Ketron Island,officials said. Richard B. Russell reportedly stole a Horizon Air plane for a joyride before crashing and killing himself near Seattle. "So, (he) had some knowledge but clearly wasn't a commercial pilot.". Newly released CCTV footage shows airport employee Richard Russell stealing an Alaska Airlines plane before fatally crashing it into a Washington island, the New York Post reports . CNN's Kyung Lah reports.. Hell of a crime spree for a 19 year old. Now, nearly four years after the event, authorities have released new video footage showing how 28-year-old Russell who went by the nickname Beebo got through the airport and into the 76-seat plane that he flew to his death. Jeff Wise is a New York-based science journalist specializing in aviation and psychology. Its the first time that weve had a commercial aircraft stolen off the ramp of an active airport, Steven Armstrong, vice director of operations for the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), told Rolling Stone. Richard "Beebo" Russell, the Horizon Air employee who stole a plane from Sea-Tac Airport on Friday night, performed midair acrobatics over Puget Sound and then crashed into an island, was an. At one point he asks the controller, Hey, do you think if I land this successfully, Alaska [Horizon Airs parent company, Alaska Airllines] will give me a job as a pilot? Told, You know, I think they would give you a job doing anything if you could pull this off, Russell replies, Yeah right! "He was getting really stressed about the financial situation he was in. SeaTac's tower began asking who was piloting the airplane, which culminated in the first of Mr Russell's exchanges with control that day. I mean, I would hope it is, for a guy like me. (AFP/Getty Images) Russell, 29, flew the plane for 75 . Horizon airline employee, 28-year-old Richard 'Bebo' Russell, stole a plane and took off before crashing into remote Pierce County island More Videos Next up in 5 Other pilots and SeaTac's tower exchange information about Mr Russell as they quickly realise that something unusual is going on. New video released Wednesday shows what first responders found after a plane stolen from Sea-Tac Airport crashed on a south Puget Sound island last August. Investigators said Richard Russell worked alone when he was working as a ground service agent for the airline, and that he towed the turboprop out a hanger, climbed into the cockpit, and took off. "Here we have an employee who was vetted to the level to have access to the aircraft and had a skill set proficient enough to take off with that plane.". Russell is then seen walking into a restricted area meant for baggage handlers, getting onto a tarmac tow vehicle, and dragging the plane he was set to steal onto the runway. Russell took off from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport at 7.32pm on Friday and flew, tailed by F-15 Eagle jets, until the plane crashed at 8.47pm into Ketron Island, located 25 miles. What followed was a 73-minute joyride during which Richard Beebo Russell had a surprisingly candid conversation with air-traffic controllers as he pushed the Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 twin-engine plane through some daring acrobatic moves. "I lift a lot of bags. Richard Russell Posted a Video on YouTube About Being a Baggage Handler Play VideoVideo related to richard russell, 'rich': 5 fast facts you need to know 2018-08-11T15:04:15-04:00 In a. Foote served four and a half months in the brig and later went on to become a test pilot in civilian life. CNN's Kyung Lah reports. New footage released by the Port of Seattle shows Mr Russell who worked as a baggage handler at the airport preparing the plane for takeoff. NORAD scrambled two F-15 to try to shepherd Russell away from populated areas of Seattle, but at 8:46 PM, Russell crashed the plane into an uninhabited part of Ketron Island in Puget Sound. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies. Now let's land that airplane safely and don't hurt anybody on the ground," the helping pilot radios. Foote was an experienced glider pilot and had undergone 100 hours of simulator flying in the Skyhawk and had hoped to become a military pilot before his ambitions were derailed by health issues. Ultimately the FBI determined that Mr Russell intentionally brought the airplane into a dive onto a small island in Puget Sound, where he died. strangest, scariest, most bizarre events of 2018. He first can be seen wandering through security, and is spotted again later on the tarmac. "Yeah, he knew how to fly," she continued. Russell, who was a ground services employee for Horizon Air, sat in the plane's cockpit for nearly an hour and a half before the unauthorized takeoff. Every time I traveled I would look out my plane window and see these sullen looking individuals leisurely pacing around, or hectically throwing bags into a cart. An air traffic controller called him "Rich," and tried to convince him to land the airplane. Russell took the Q400 from a cargo area at the north end of Sea-Tac Airport on August 10. President Donald Trump was briefed on the incident and is monitoring the situation, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said Saturday morning. "NORAD fighters did not fire upon the aircraft," North American Aerospace Defense Command said Saturday morning in a news release. The newly published video, coupled with Rolling Stones detailed reconstruction of the events of August 10, 2018, paint the picture of a cheerful, gregarious fellow. SEATTLE -- He cracked jokes, complimented the professional demeanor of an air traffic controller and apologized for making a fuss. Its not yet known exactly what pre-existing psychological conditions Russell may have had, but in the course of his conversation with air traffic controllers he expresses racial resentment. [deleted] 5 yr. ago. video Plane crashes near Seattle airport. Investigators on Saturday were trying to retrieve the plane's flight data recorder and its cockpit voice recorder. Jason Silverstein contributed to this report. Meyer had recently been passed over for promotion and had been arrested for drunk and disorderly conduct. "Congratulations. The 76-seat Horizon Air turboprop plane took off without authorization at 7:32 p.m. local time Friday, with Russell, who was not a pilot, at the controls, officials said. They said it's clear Russell didn't intend to harm anyone, and "he was right in saying that there are so many people who loved him. Send us an email at investigate@kiro7.com, Multiple western Washington residents indicted in connection to coast-to-coast drug ring, Bank accidentally left unlocked in Fresno, police say, Powerball jackpot winner identified as longtime Boeing employee, Officials: Mother identified as shooter in murder-suicide in Ohio, Court finds Federal Way gun store in contempt of court. On the other hand, Russell was reported to have been profoundly troubled, whereas Malaysian authorities were unable to find any evidence that Shah suffered from mental illness or was undergoing any kind of stress in his life. I don't know! He said he wanted to create projects showing the contrast between his hard work on the ground and his high-flying free time traveling the globe. As a flight controller tried to persuade him to land, he wondered aloud about whether he had enough fuel to make it to the Olympics, talked of the beautiful view, and said he had a lot of people who cared about him, apologizing for what he was doing. "Oh man. "We are devastated by these events, and Jesus is truly the only one holding this family together right now. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Surveillance footage obtained by KOMO shows 28-year-old Richard Russell using a tow vehicle to pull a Horizon Air Q400 aircraft onto the tarmac before climbing into the cockpit on August 10, 2018. It seemed like such miserable work and I never could imagine why anyone would want to subject themselves to all the constant noise, gas fumes, and heavy lifting. In the footage, Mr Russell can be seen calmly moving through the airport wearing a black shirt that says "The Sky's No Limit." MH370 captain Zaharie Ahmad Shah was a flight-sim enthusiast who is known to have taken a simulated flight path similar to the one authorities believe the plane ultimately took into the southern Indian Ocean. Mr Russell's aerial joyride ultimately ended in a fiery crash on a remote island in Puget Sound. "Russell was known as a quiet guy who read a lot," according to one witness statement. Mr Russell was at times jovial at one point he assured SeaTac's tower that he didn't need help controlling the airplane because he had played some video games and questioned if it could do a backflip and was at others melancholic. Russell flew the plane for over an hour before crashing. appreciated. "He was a quiet guy," Rick Christenson, an operational supervisor with the airline who retired in Maytold The Seattle Times. Newly-obtained surveillance video from 2018 shows how Richard Russell, then a Horizon Ground service agent with no pilot experience, successfully stole the plane before crashing to his death. He's worked at Horizon longer than I did, and he still wasn't making $15 an hour, Reeves said. Find flight for cheapWith its premium plus plan, youll be able to browse flight deals going for up to 90% off in business, premium economy, and economy class. We may earn a commission from links on this page. Onlooker John Waldron took video that shows the plane rolling inverted at low altitude, then pulling into a half-loop in a aerobatic high-g maneuver called a split S. Whether through skill or luck, Russell managed to pull the plane out of its rapid descent just above the wave tops. The rest of Mr Russell's time in the air was well documented, thanks to his regular contact with SeaTac's tower. Nearby co-workers weren't even aware of Russell's actions, which happened six hours into his shift, according to reporters. ", The statement said Russell, 29, was "a faithful husband, a loving son and a good friend. The plane was a Q400, a Bombardier turboprop plane, one of about 40 the airline has in its fleet. He flew until the plane ran out of fuel and died in the ensuing crash. Video from Friday showed the Horizon Air Q400 doing large loops and other dangerous maneuvers as the sun set on the Puget Sound. Some speculated the plane was stolen as part of an insurance scam, or perhaps taken by terrorists who planned to use it as a flying bomb, but the truth remains unknown. You did that. While searching the crash site, investigators also located human remains among the aircraft materials. The reason I left is in February of 2016 they were short staffed and they had me run three planes in the same time, Reeves said. Amazingly, despite the unprecedented nature of this deadly feat, and the fact that it could have easily become a mass casualty event, Russells flight and fatal crash seemed to hardly make a splash in the national news. New video shows crash site of stolen plane. Could 3 Particles on a Tie Lead Us to D.B. Richard Russell: Details emerge of a 'compassionate' man after Seattle plane heist and fiery crash By Alex Horton August 13, 2018 at 8:01 a.m. EDT A Horizon Air employee described as. Join the Celebration of a Lifetime! The man has been identified as Richard Russell, a law enforcement official familiar with the investigation confirmed to CNN on Saturday night. Investigators "did not identify any information that would suggest the theft of the aircraft was related to wider criminal activity or terrorist ideology," according to a summary of the FBI report. Without communicating to air traffic controllers, he cut off another airplane and then managed to get the plane onto the runway and airborne. The jets were not involved in the crash, it said. Russell repeatedly says he would do a roll. It's gonna be crazy," Mr Russel said. July 13, 1994. Besides his other duties, he was qualified to tow aircraft, said Gary Beck, Horizon Air's president and chief executive officer.
An airline employee stole an otherwise unoccupied passenger plane Friday from the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and flew it for an hour with military jets chasing him before crashing in a wooded area 40 miles away.
. "This is a complete shock to us," the family said in a statement Saturday night. Nah, Im a white guy.. A ground service agent's tasks don't involve touching planes' controls, CNN aviation analyst Mary Schiavo said. Also see | Stolen plane narrowly missed family inside Ketron Island cabin. Like a lot of bags. NTSB to investigate in-flight turbulence that left 1 passenger dead, Pittsburgh woman missing for 31 years found alive in Puerto Rico, stole an airplane from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Investigators work to determine how a man was able to pilot a stolen plane. The agency says the 28-year-old's loved ones hosted an intervention for him, who "seemed fine" besides increased drinking. He complimented the controller: "You are very calm, collect, poised," he said. An FBI investigation found Alaska Airlines ramp employee Richard Russell intentionally crashed the aircraft after flying for more than an hour. By Louis Lucero II and Melissa Gomez. Now, nearly four years after the event, authorities have released new video footage showing how 28-year-old Russell who went by the nickname "Beebo" got through. "In this plane, he certainly knew how to retract the landing gear, he coordinated both engines, powered them up to get a coordinated takeoff," she said. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. They said it's not clear whether he had ever taken flight lessons or used flight simulators, or where he gained the skills to take off. But the plane made turns and aerobatic maneuvers that suggest some skill, she said. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Surveillance footage obtained by KOMO shows 28-year-old Richard Russell using a tow vehicle to pull a Horizon Air Q400 aircraft onto the tarmac before climbing into the cockpit on August 10, 2018. The King County medical examiner ruled his death a suicide. F-15s were scrambled out of their base at Portland International Airport to intercept the plane. Those guys will rough me up if I try and land there," the man responded, later adding, "This is probably jail time for life, huh? New video shows the crash site and blogging made by Richard Russell, the airline worker who stole and crashed a plane from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Winter Weather Advisory expires for much of western Washington, Intertribal comedy sketch troupe performs 'Between Two Knees' at Seattle Rep, plane stolen from Sea-Tac Airport crashed, Stolen plane narrowly missed family inside Ketron Island cabin, released the findings of its investigation, Cockpit audio from worker who stole empty plane from Sea-Tac Airport, 'I was blown away': Stepbrother of man who stole plane speaks out. With its premium plus plan, youll be able to browse flight deals going for up to 90% off in business, premium economy, and economy class. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? "A couple of the turns, it looked like what we call in basic flight training a 'coordinated turn,' meaning that he not only used the yoke but you also coordinate with the rudders and you do the turns. Airline officials believe he was in uniform and worked a shift Friday, Tilden said. The black boxes will hopefully give investigators more clues as they try to figure out why Russell flew the plane into the ground. Win Your Trip to Our 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards! A beautifully-written Rolling Stone article published in summer of 2021 tells the story of Russells life up to the moment he towed the plane onto the runway and hopped in the cockpit, attempting to find meaning or motive to help explain why this goofy, God-fearing baggage handler decided to steal a plane he likely knew he couldnt successfully land. It's unclear exactly what Mr Russell is doing during this time, but he eventually takes control of a pushback tug and readies the Alaska Air plane for takeoff. Photos show first responders that night sleeping outside on the ground. ", First published on August 13, 2018 / 5:34 AM. "I think I'm going to try to do a barrel roll, and if that goes good I'll go nose down and call it a night," Richard Russell said from the cockpit, according to a recording of his conversation with the controller. The sky thief Richard Russell captivated the audience's attention after the Authorities at the Port of Seattle released an airport surveillance video of plane stealing. "I lift a lot of bags. What was the richard russell plane crash story all about. F-15 fighter jets scrambled to intercept the Q400, which ultimately crashed into Ketron Island, about 30 miles from the airport. Nearby co-workers weren't even aware of Russell's actions, which happened six hours into his shift, according to reporters. Witnesses described the surreal scene after the plane left the airport. The job of a ground service agent includes directing aircraft for takeoff and gate approach, handling baggage and tidying and de-icing planes, authorities said. The FBI has recovered the flight data recorder and components of the cockpit voice recorder from the Horizon aircraft that crashed onto Ketron Island Friday night. The incident came about when a 29-year-old man stole an aircraft from Seattle-Tacoma International airport in August 2018. As he flew the stolen 76-seat passenger plane above the Seattle area for nearly an hour on Friday night, Richard B. Russell was asked by an air . Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. Air traffic control became suspicious of Mr Russell after he cut in the line for takeoff. Tragic as Russell's death was, he could have inflicted vastly more damage had he been so inclined. While in the air, Meyer, whod been married eight weeks before, called his wife and said, Guess what? Within minutes of the plane's takeoff, the military scrambled two armed F-15 jets from Oregon to follow it, according to local and airline authorities and two sources with knowledge of the situation. The Associated Press contributed to this report. In the footage, Mr Russell can be seen calmly moving through the airport wearing a black shirt. He managed to proceed with his plan unmolested largely because no one thought twice about the baggage handler working in the airport's restricted spaces. Marine Corps lance corporal Howard A. Foote, Jr. stole an A-4M Skyhawk ground attack jet from Marine Corps Air Station El Toro and took it on a 45-minute aerobatic joyride before returning to base and landing safely. New video shows the crash site and blogging made by Richard Russell, the airline worker who stole and crashed a plane from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Russell was "tow certified" and had full security access, and had been with the company for three and a half years, CBS News' Jamie Yuccas reports. . There were no passengers aboard. First published on August 11, 2018 / 4:48 PM. ", Referring to audio recordings of Russell talking to air traffic control during his hour-long flight, the statement said his "intent was not to harm anyone. Author: Elisa Hahn Published: 11/14/2018 5:51:22 PM Copyright 2018 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. The tower alerted the Portland Air National Guard base, which dispatched a group of US Air Force F-15s to intercept the rouge aircraft. His responsibilities included towing and pushing aircraft for takeoff and gate approach, de-icing them, and handling baggage. It evens out in the end.". I hope they can make it through this.". How was a man able to steal and pilot a plane?Ronald Martin Obituary Florida, Types Of Jellyfish In Massachusetts, Danny Greene Grave, Articles R